DENZONG

Paddy field of North Sikkim.

BGP IS NOT A POLITICAL THREAT – D.K. BHANDARI

Siliguri,3 June: Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) should not be taken as a political threat since this apolitical and social body has nothing to do with politics. Its aim is not to compete with any political outfit but to work for unification of the Indian Gorkhas for the cause of their social, cultural, literary and linguistic development. This is a known fact that this national organization has not caused harm to any organization rather it has directly or indirectly helped them out through different means. The organization has been able to make the national leaders aware of the problems facing the Gorkhas in India in terms of their identity crisis. It has also been successful to shift the paradigm by taking Gorkha’s problems in Delhi durbar from regional level. The BGP is the sympathizer of political parties that are carrying out various activities and movements at their own level to draw the attention of concerned authorities about the demand of Gorkhas.
The above statements were made by Smt. D.K. Bhandari, Chairperson, BGP at Mangal Maity Bhawan, Siliguri on 31st May while addressing a large number of National Executive members of the organization gathered from various parts of the country. Referring to the present movement of Gorkhaland being spearheaded by different political parties in Darjeeling hills, Smt. Bhandari recalled the Nepali language movement and stated that only political efforts are not enough to get a demand materialized. According to her, the Nepali language was recognized at the social level backed by the political strength. She stated that it has now become necessary to bring all the national parties into confidence towards the demand of a separate state of Indian Gorkhas. A national consensus is to be brought to fulfill this demand and for this purpose efforts should be made from all walks of Gorkha society in India, she added. She also appealed other regional Gorkha bodies to come forward to realize the goal of a separate state.
Addressing the gathering, C.K. Shrestha, Working President of the organization highlighted the achievements of the BGP at national and regional levels. He said that a few organizations have been hijacking the programmes and strategies of the BGP and now the BGP workers should claim such programmes as their brainchild. Due to the absence of assertiveness the BGP workers have become faceless in the present Gorkha society despite their tremendous contribution towards the cause of Gorkhas in India, he stated. He also claimed that the national leaders are aware of the role of BGP to shift the demand of separate state from state to central level. Talking about the demand of Gorkhaland, he said that the BGP is of the view that this issue should not be addressed by any single political party to fulfill vested interest but it is to be addressed by the nation itself considering the injustice the Gorkhas have been facing since last several years despite their selfless contribution towards the independence, security, building and development of this nation. According to him, the demand of Gorkhaland is related with the identity crisis of over 1.25 million Gorkhas in India and it should be discussed at national level by all the national leaders as the Gorkhas do not want sympathy from anybody. He also stated that the nationalism is the first priority of the Gorkhas in India and they would never blackmail the nation to fulfill their demand. He also appealed the BGP workers to understand the views of other organizations working for similar causes and not over-react on them.
Sukhman Moktan, Secretary General highlighted the organizational achievements of the BGP in the last three years. He disclosed that the new central committee of the BGP would be formed in October this year during the Maha-Adhiveshan of the organization which will be held at Siliguri. According to him, the new committee will have to face more challenges in various aspects in view of the present political situation. Referring the prevailing national trend of youth’s involvement in political sphere, Moktan opined that the BGP should ensure participation of more youths in its future course of action and also highlighted the necessity of bringing the ideology of the BGP at grass root level. He claimed that the BGP has been able to make Indian Gorkhas aware about the unification at national level by way of organizing leadership building workshops in different parts of the country. He suggested that the BGP should now prepare a list of whole time workers and utilize their services in organizational affairs.
About the demand of Gorkhaland, Moktan disclosed that the BGP central leadership has decided to camp at New Delhi during the month June-July and hold discussion with the present UPA Govt. and opposition parties as well about the seven point charter of demands of the organization which tops the creation of a separate state for Indian Gorkhas. He also directed the office bearers of state and district level committees of the BGP particularly from Darjeeling, Sikkim, Dooars areas to keep themselves in readiness to rush for New Delhi in a short notice to hold discussion with the national leaders about the long pending demands of the organization.
Madhav Karki, Councillor. Bodoland Territorial Council suggested the BGP leaders to form a political cell of the organization to look after the related subjects including demand of Gorkhaland and viewed that the Gorkhas should now field their own candidates from respective constituencies in future elections. B.B.Chhetri (President, Meghalaya State Committee) also echoed his view and emphasized on the need of an effective cell to sort out the political issues.
Col (Retd) D.R. Gurung, Chairman, Financial Committee suggested that transparency should be maintained in the organizational transactions. He also disclosed that a large number of BGP workers are now working in political parties and they must bear courage to oppose any anti-BGP move of their parties. Gurung, who is heading Bharatiya Gorkha Bhutpurva Sainik Morcha, Siliguri claimed that he had challenged the party leaders who had framed unnecessary charges against the BGP leadership circle in the recent past. Gurung also requested the BGP central leaders to make him free from the organizational burden as he is now engaged in political activities.
The meeting was followed by an interactive session which was conducted by Munish Tamang, Secretary, Central Programme Cell, New Delhi.
The other leaders to address the meeting were Rudra Adhikari, Treasurer, Buddhiman Pradhan, Joint Secretary General (Admin), B.B. Chhetri (President, Meghalaya State), Nityananda Upadhyaya (Secretary, Assam State), Binod Bishta (Secretary, Manipur State), S. Pandey (Secretary, Sikkim State), Shivlal Alley (Secretary, Uttarakhand State), Jiwan Gurung (Secretary, Darjeeling), C.K. Pradhan, Dy. S.P (Retd) (President, Kalimpong), Binod Prakash Sharma (Secretary, Kurseong), K.N. Pradhan (President, Siliguri) and Arun Acharya (Social Worker). They highlighted the organizational activities and achievements of the BGP in respective areas and also discussed about the future course of action of the organization. Other prominent BGP leaders present in the meeting were Smt. Latika Joshi (Vice President), Bhupendra Adhikari (Secretary, Zone IV), Dr. Raja Singh Limboo (Member, Policy Making Body), Col (Retd) S.K. Mukhia (Office Secretary, Siliguri), Brig (Retd) N.B. S. Bishta (President, Uttarakhand State), S.K. Chhetri (President, Mangal Maity). Apart from them, the social thinkers of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Sikkim, Dooars, Siliguri were also present in the meeting as observers.
This was the last National Executive meeting of the present central committee of the BGP as its term is going to be expired in October this year and a new central committee is to be formed then.

MEDIA AND GAME

Army vehicle crush one girl to death

Gangtok,05 May : An army heavy vehicle crushed an 18 year old girl to death while seriously injuring another girl at 2nd Mile, Chandmari above Gangtok today morning.

The victim, Nari Maya Gurung was killed at the spot while her sister Susang Gurung (19) was seriously injured, said police. The girl has sustained injuries in her head and has been rushed to Central Referral Hospital here.

However, there are slim chances of her survival, it was informed.

Police has taken the army driver into custody. Police are investigating whether the accident was due to a break-fail or the vehicle was overspeeding.

National level women football championships from this August.

Gangtok, 05 May: Sikkim, the home State of Indian football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia is gearing up to organize and host the first ever national level women football championships this August.

We are organizing the All India Women Football Tournament in the month of August, said Menla Ethenpa, general secretary of Sikkim Football Association (SFA), the organizers.

SFA will be inviting the top four women football team graded by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to participate in this maiden tournament, said Mr. Ethenpa. At least two teams from Sikkim and other teams from the neighbouring areas of Darjeeling district will be featuring in the tournament.

“Bhutan has also expressed its interest to participate in the tournament”, said Mr. Ethenpa.

Though AIFF has been organized national level women football championships, the endeavor by SFA should be first in the nation.

By inviting the top women football teams in the tournament, we want to inspire and promote the upcoming women footballers of Sikkim, said the SFA general secretary adding the tournament will be an annual event.

The finals of the tournament are scheduled on August 15.

The proposed All India Women Football Tournament by SFA has taken the football calendar in Sikkim to three events.

The first event, Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal Memorial Cup organized by SFA began from today at Paljor Stadium.

In the first match, Namchi based Siniolchu club defeated Young Star football club by 2 goals to one.

There are 16 teams participating in this knockout men’s football tournament, which is an annual feature. Apart from six teams from Sikkim, teams from Kolkata, Delhi and neighbouring Darjeeling district also feature in this event.

The Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal Memorial Cup also known as Independence Cup used to be held during the month of August. It was shifted to May to make room for the proposed All India Women Football Tournament to be held on August.

After these two events, the showpiece football tournament of Sikkim, All India Governor’s Gold Cup is scheduled to be held during the month of September-October later this year.

Border trade through Old Silk rout Resume from Monday

Nathula,04 April:

The Nathua border trade for the fourth consecutive year today started today with a low key participation from the Indian traders.

However sixty Chinese traders in the first day crossed the border to operate their business for this year.

The border reopened at 11am in the morning. On other side none of the Indian traders could cross the border due to non availability of the travel pass.

Amidst slight drizzling of snow fall Ujwal Gurung, the Director of Commerce and Industries Department, Sumitra Pradhan, the Deputy Secretary offered khadas to the traders at the Nathula post.

Later both the traders accorded each other a warm welcome at Sherathang Mart hoping for a more business prosperity this year.

‘We are not pretty happy with the response from the Indian traders on first day’ said Kesang Diki, an official from Trade and Commerce (TAR) from the Chinese region.

While interacting with the media she said, as usual the revision of the lists of items is the major factor in which the business transactions will depend this year.

‘India desperately needs to come up with more infrastructure facilities for the smooth trade, she pointed out.

Pretty dismayed with the non-availability of the travel pass the Indian traders also expressed their dissatisfaction even for not reaching up to Nathula border.

‘ Understanding the urgency we request the concerned authority to kindly issue the pass as earliest as possible’ Anil Kumar Gupta, the General Secretary of Indo-China border trade association told the reporters.

On other hand Ujwal Gurung, the Director of the concerned department informed the Ministry of Commerce and Industries Department has already sanctioned Rs. Cores for the construction of a high class mart at Sherathang and the work would be soon commenced.

‘Also the construction work of parking yard, cafeteria would be soon accomplished’ he added.

Stating that the matter of revision of lists of items still lies in the Ministry he said, Mani Shanker Iyer, the Chairman of NEC has already placed a proposal to declare Nathula trade as open trade under Most Favored Nation ( MFN).

Nathula Trade which was reopened in the year 2006 had a total export of Rs 10 lakhs, 27 lakhs and 97 lakhs for the year past three successive years .

While the import were merely Rs 10 lakhs, 7 lakhs and 1 lakhs.

Nathu La trade to resume on Monday

Nathula, 3 May : The fourth edition of the annual Sino-Indian border trade at Nathu La, one of the three trading border posts between China and India, will resume on Monday after a six-month long winter break.
Apart Nathu La, the other two border trade check posts are Shipkila in Himachal Pradesh and Lipulekh (or Lipulech) in Uttarakhand.
Sealed by India after the 1962 Sino-Indian War, Nathu La was re-opened in 2006 following numerous bilateral trade agreements.
Currently, agreements between the two nations limit trade across the pass to 29 types of goods from India and 15 from the Chinese side.
The annual border trade is restricted for participation of the traders from Sikkim and Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) only.
Under the bilateral agreement, the Indian traders visit Renguingang mart in TAR to buy goods from there, while their counterparts from across the border come to Sherathang Mart in Sikkim for trading purpose.
The traders of the two countries are issued Import-Export Code Number (IEC) and security passes by their respective authorities to enable them to visit the trade marts.
In spite of various restrictions put on for trading through Nathu La, the total value of the traded goods last year stood at Rs.9.6 million.
The Government of Sikkim will organize a function at Sherathang Mart on Monday to mark the formal inauguration of the fourth edition of the bilateral border trade.
Official delegations and traders of the two countries will attend the function.
The Sikkim Chamber of Commerce and the Indo-Chinese Traders Association of Sikkim (ICTAS) have urged the governments of the two countries for an urgent revision of the goods on the trade list to add commercial value to the business.
Most of the items listed in the schedule are obsolete and lack commercial value